A thoroughfare is a primary passage or way as a transit route through regularly trafficked areas, whether by road on dry land or, by extension, via watercraft or

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines. ...

. On land, a thoroughfare may refer to anything from a multi- lane highway with grade-separated junctions to a rough trail. Thoroughfares are used by a variety of traffic, such as cars, as well as

pedestrian A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In modern times, the term usually refers to someone walking on a road or pavement, but this was not the case historically. The meaning of pedestrian is displayed with ...

s on roads and highways. On water, a thoroughfare may refer to a

strait A strait is an oceanic landform connecting two seas or two other large areas of water. The surface water generally flows at the same elevation on both sides and through the strait in either direction. Most commonly, it is a narrow ocean channe ...

, channel, or

waterway A waterway is any navigable body of water. Broad distinctions are useful to avoid ambiguity, and disambiguation will be of varying importance depending on the nuance of the equivalent word in other languages. A first distinction is necessary ...

. The term may also refer to access to a route, distinct from the route itself. Thus, ''thoroughfare'' may refer to the legal right to use a particular way.

Different terms

* Highways, public or private road or other public way on land * Roads, route or way on land between two places that has been paved or otherwise improved for travel * Bridle path, for equestrian use * Cycleway, for use by cyclists *

Footpath A footpath (also pedestrian way, walking trail, nature trail) is a type of thoroughfare that is intended for use only by pedestrians and not other forms of traffic such as motorized vehicles, bicycles and horses. They can be found in a wide ...

, for use only by pedestrians * Foreshoreway, a greenway along the edge of the sea, open to both walkers and cyclists * Greenway, a wilderness area intended for "passive use" * Hiking trail, trails (footpaths), in the countryside *

Long-distance trail A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents excep ...

s, recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing * Right of way, an

easement An easement is a nonpossessory right to use and/or enter onto the real property of another without possessing it. It is "best typified in the right of way which one landowner, A, may enjoy over the land of another, B". An easement is a property ...

on a piece of land * Running course, a footway used by runners *

Sidewalk A sidewalk (North American English), pavement (British English), footpath in Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland, or footway, is a path along the side of a street, street, highway, terminals. Usually constructed of concrete, pavers, brick ...

, a path for people to walk along the side of a road * Snowshoe trail, a snow trail to be navigated by pedestrians in snowshoes * Towpath, a path along a canal or river used for towing a boat * Traffic circle, a type of intersection that directs both turning and through traffic onto a one-way circular roadway * Trail/Track, a rough path through more wild or remote territory *Many other types of road * On water, a heavily trafficked route through a

or channel. *

Street A street is a public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, ...

* Stroad

References

{{Authority control Water transport Types of thoroughfares Routes

Different terms

See also

References